Keep North Carolina Beautiful's Window of Opportunity (WOO) Grant Program provides financial support for student-centered outdoor learning, beautification, recycling, and sustainability projects that foster environmental stewardship and hands-on educational experiences throughout North Carolina.

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Through the WOO Grant Program, students become active participants in improving their schools and communities. Grant-funded projects, including outdoor classrooms, gardens, beautification efforts, recycling programs, and other sustainability initiatives, empower young people to develop a lifelong appreciation for environmental stewardship while creating lasting, positive impacts on their campuses and beyond.

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These projects connect classroom learning with real-world experiences, helping students develop problem-solving skills, environmental awareness, leadership abilities, and a stronger sense of community pride.

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Successful projects place students at the center of the experience, encouraging them to participate in project planning, implementation, and long-term stewardship while developing valuable skills in teamwork, responsibility, and environmental leadership.

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While most Window of Opportunity (WOO) Grants are awarded at $1,000, a limited number of exceptional projects may be eligible for funding of up to $2,500.

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WOO Grants support outdoor classroom and environmental learning projects with clearly defined objectives, budgets, and completion timelines. Applicants must complete the application linked below and submit a PDF attachment outlining the project's anticipated student learning outcomes, scope of work, line-item budget, and project timeline. A completed Letter of Commitment, signed by the organization's principal or director, is also required and must be submitted along with the project outline.

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Additional information regarding WOO Grants, including project eligibility requirements and examples of previously funded projects, can be found on the "About WOO Grants" page located within the WOO Grants dropdown menu.

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Organizations receiving a WOO Grant are required to submit a final expense report upon project completion, including an itemized accounting of all grant expenditures. In addition, photographs documenting the project before implementation, during construction or installation, and upon completion must be provided to KNCB.

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The application dealine is Friday, December 18, 2026.

Out of respect to those who meet the deadline, no exceptions will be allowed.

All grant award recipients will be notified via email no later than January 31, 2026. 

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All applications must also include a filled out letter of commitment, as seen below.

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